Consultational

Consultational is an adjective describing processes, practices, or communications conducted to obtain advice or opinions from others. It denotes activities that center on consultation and the integration of external or internal counsel into decision-making. In professional settings, consultational approaches emphasize gathering expertise, stakeholder input, and collaborative problem-solving rather than unilateral action. The term can apply to meetings, workflows, governance structures, or care and advisory models built around soliciting and incorporating advice.

Usage notes: Consultational is less common than consultative. Some writers use it interchangeably with consultative, while others reserve consultational for the act or occasion of soliciting advice. In practice, a consultational process might involve structured solicitation of opinions, formal responses, and subsequent synthesis into a recommended course of action.

Etymology: The word derives from the verb consult, via the noun consultatio meaning “a consultation.” The suffix -al/-ional forms an adjective indicating related to or characterized by the root concept.

See also: consultative, consultation, consultant, advisory, governance, collaborative.